अंशु

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Aryan *Hanśúṣ, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *Hanĉúš, presumably a loanword from Uralic substratum per Lubotsky. Cognate to Younger Avestan 𐬄𐬯𐬎‎ (ąsu).

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɐ̃.ɕú/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈɐ̃.ɕu/

Noun

अंशु • (aṃśú) m

1. filament, stalk (especially of the Soma plant)
   • RV 4.22.8

     पिपीळे अंशुर मद्यो न सिन्धुर आ तवा शमी शशमानस्य शक्तिः |

     अस्मद्र्यक छुशुचानस्य यम्या आशुर न रश्मिं तुव्योजसं गोः ||

     pipīḷe aṃśur madyo na sindhur ā tvā śamī śaśamānasya śaktiḥ |

     asmadryak chuśucānasya yamyā āśur na raśmiṃ tuvyojasaṃ ghoḥ ||

     Pressed is the gladdening stalk as ’twere a river: so let the rite, the toiler's power, attract thee

     To us-ward, of the Bright One, as the courser strains his. exceedingly strong leather bridle.

2. kind of Soma libation
3. thread
4. end of a thread, a minute particle
5. point, end
6. array, sunbeam
7. cloth
8. name of a rishi
   • RV 8.5.26

     यथोत कर्त्व्ये धने.अंशुं गोष्वगस्त्यम |

     यथा वाजेषु सोभरिम ||

     athota kṛtvye dhane.aṃśuṃ ghoṣvaghastyam |

     yathā vājeṣu sobharim ||

     And Amsu in decisive fight, Agastya in the fray for kine.

     And, in his battles, Sobhari.

9. name of an ancient Vedic teacher, son of a धनंजय (dhanaṃjaya)
10. name of a prince